The Note

W A S H I N G T O N, Nov. 17

Page 6 of 17

The Los Angeles Times' Nick Anderson and Eric Slater write up General Clark's "rite of passage" appearance on "Meet the Press." LINK

As does James Gordon Meek of the New York Daily News. Meek reports that Clark said he thinks the United States should give up direct control of Iraq and transfer the authority of governing to the Iraqi people. LINK

"Strategizing over brunch yesterday at the trendy South End bistro Aquitaine, some high-profile supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark made fund-raising plans for the retired Army general. The klatch included Alan Hassenfeld, CEO of toy giant Hasbro, Massachusetts General Hospital neuro-oncologist Dr. Fred Hochberg, entrepreneur/philanthropist Sharyn Fireman, and Boston filmmaker Joanna Datillo. Really, with friends like these, who needs fund-raisers? According to Dow Jones Newswires, Hassenfeld last year earned a salary of $1 million and a bonus of $915,000." LINK

Matt, help! General Clark corrects himself after saying his wife didn't work, reports the New York Times .LINK

Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Dinner:

The contendas were in the house, writes the New York Times ' Adam Nagourney, but Senator Hillary Clinton was the star of Saturday night's Jefferson Jackson dinner. LINK

The Democrats hoping to get just a little attention at the JJ dinner returned to the theme that action, not anger, is what wins elections, write Ron Brownstein and Mark Z. Barabak.LINK

As Democratic hopefuls continued to decry the Bush "leadership crisis" in Iowa this weekend, the real question remains whether any of them can be a viable Dean alternative, report Zeleny and Pearson of the Chicago Tribune. LINK

The Des Moines Register 's Tom Beaumont spent more time focusing on the candidates who spoke at Saturday's JJ dinner than on Senator Clinton, Noting that Gov. Dean shouted "You've got the power!" a dozen times. We counted 14 — the indoor record. LINK